EVRY, France, June 26 /PRNewswire/ --     From November 18th to 22nd, 2007, under the responsibility of Marc
Peschanski, director of I-Stem(1), Genopole(R) is organizing an advanced
course on stem cells and their therapeutic applications, aimed at exploring
the latest advancements of research in this field, with input
from 17 renowned specialists worldwide. Major topics to be covered include
embryonic stem cells, mesenchymatic, hematopoetic, and organ stem
cells and cloning.

Stem cells, whether embryonic or tissue-specific, are seen today as
extremely useful tools showing therapeutic promising approach for many
diseases. Reproduced and differentiated on demand, they can enable the
transfers of biological products needed for gene and cell therapy or
represent flexible and powerful tools for screening molecules for predictive
toxicology or therapeutic efficacy trials.

The body of gathered knowledge, which is already very large, can be even
further extended, for example, to the hematopoetic system or epidermis. A
certain number of key mechanisms remain unknown, particularly the two main
characteristics of stem cells: on the one hand, their ability for
self-renewal and, on the other, for differentiation.

This area of research has become a top priority at Genopole; next
September 11th, Genopole, in cooperation with the AFM, Inserm and Universite
d'Evry-Val-d'Essonne, will be inaugurating the I-Stem laboratory, directed by
Marc Peschanski, one of the first researchers authorized to work on stem
cells in France.

The audience will be limited to 40 participants. This course is intended
for biologists already involved in stem cell research and wishing to
reach a more detailed understanding of this area. Program:
www.genopole.fr/stemcells-course/

Genopole(R)

France's leading biopark dedicated to biotech and genetics research,
Genopole(R) gathers private and public research labs, biotech
firms as well as academia (Universite d'Evry-Val-d'Essonne). With 21
research labs on campus and a portfolio of 62 biotech firms, therapeutic
innovation is a core concern for Genopole(R) professionals. Its objective is
to promote research development in genomics, postgenomics and associated
sciences and technology transfer to the industrial sector, develop
advanced courses in these areas and create and support biotech companies.
www.genopole.fr

Press contact:
    
    Benedicte Robert
    benedicte.robert@genopole.fr

    Registration and information:

    Catherine Meignen,
    catherine.meignen@genopole.fr



(1)Stem cell institute for the treatment and study of monogenic diseases.